Loved this book. Great characters, easy read, uplifting, funny, romantic and charming. A really nice story that is the perfect escapist read.

This is the story of two people finding themselves in the most untraditional way possible, and while the ultimate goal may have been bringing them closer together, the outcome may have been the biggest unknown of their married lives.




When I first started reading this one, I admit...I was enchanted by the cover. I mean, just look at it! It's simply gorgeous, and that gave me warm feelings about the story I was about to entertain. When I began getting to know Fern and Aiden, I was curious...just what was going on with this couple who seemed to have distance in their hearts? Then the windfall happened, and I considered their problems, if money bound, would be banished...but things went deeper than that. There were wounds on one side that while never intended, still existed, and the restlessness that built within them came bursting out in an exasperating rush.




A gap year? In a marriage? I was beyond flabbergasted...actually, I was probably AS flabbergasted as Fern, but with a lot more words coming out of my mouth regarding the whole idea. I mean, who DOES that? Who truly loves the other person, but wants to step away from them for a year? I get he had wanderlust, and I get she had a fear of flying that inhibited that in some fashion, but my word! I was just blown away. Then, things started happening, at least for Fern, because the viewpoint we truly get the clearest image of is through her eyes, and it was...enlightening. She found herself in so many little ways, and unlocked so many larger doors that were creating obstacles, while lifting several pieces of the world from her weary shoulders...my mind circled back to the original suggestion/steps that created this "opportunity". Would it be a good idea? Or would the changes they were both bound to experience not simply drive them apart, but make it clearer as to why they seemed to be growing in that direction anyway?




It was a conundrum, and I could only stay along for the ride to find out just how things played out. Along the journey, we meet so many souls seeking their own solace, understanding, and new beginnings that one can't help but be moved by not only their stories, but the steps they've taken to find their paths again. The tortured artist, the unheard youth, the guilt ridden heart, the haunted widow...all of them, good, giving, and kind hearted people, just needing to find a connection, along with their own voices once again. It gave the story a true feeling of togetherness, and provided a wonderful fullness to everything experienced.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This a lovely book of discovery, love and passion. A sudden windfall leaves Fern and her husband Aiden in a position to better their lives, but Fern is devastated to learn that what Aidan wants is to take a year apart from one another and discover things about themselves that they’ve never had a chance to. They have been together since high school, and he says that this could be their gap year to discover themselves and be a better couple in the long run, Fern is not sure about his motives but she eventually agrees goes along with the idea and is pushed into taking time out to discover if she really enjoys drawing and art.

Fern volunteers for the next year at a retreat in an isolated area of Provence. Right from the minute she gets there, she feels that she fits in. Nico the head painter takes her under his wing and it discovers that she is quite talented with painting and as we follow her through the year and see her grow as a woman, sister, friend and spouse. She and Aiden try their best to keep in touch and Fern worries about him a great deal as he treks around the world enjoying new experiences. But is their distance going to help or hinder them in the long run. How easy will it be to go back to their regular lives when this is all over? Will they really grow as a couple or grow apart?

I really enjoyed this book and in this time of pandemic when travel is banned, it was lovely to escape to Provence, I could almost smell the roses and herbs in the herb garden.

5☆ An Enchanting and heart warming, A Perfect Read for a lil bit of Escapism!


Summer in Provence is a delightfully heart warming read. A perfect bit of escapism!


Fern has just matched her lottery draw raffle numbers and is set for a pretty big windfall.
But all she can think about is how after 7years of marriage Aiden has changed, she believes he had fallen out of love with her!
But really he just feels trapped, like he's missing out on finding himself.

So he suggests they take a year apart. So he can discover who he is outside their marriage and get the travel bug out of his system! Nice hey! Never mind poor Fern and how she feels about a trial separation!

Whilst Aiden sets off to go travelling, Fern checks herself into Le Château de Vernon, a retreat in Provence. Where she plans to volunteer and learn new skills.

But will the year apart Aiden so desperately craves bring him back to Fern, or is the start of a new chapter for the both of them?

I loved Fern's Character and her story, she is strong, relatable, brave and incredibly understanding and patient. I'm not sure I would cope or be pleased if my hubby decided he wanted to jet set off for a year and expect everything to be normal afterwards!

Summer in Provence is an Enchanting and heart warming story of self discovery, love, learning new skills, realisation, relationships and moving on.
​
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this gorgeous book. The characters were an eclectic and loveable bunch and their backstories were interesting and fitted together perfectly.
The setting was tranquil and rustic.
Lucy Coleman has created the perfect piece of escapism with all this uncertainty we are facing at the moment.

Lucy Coleman is one of my favourite Authors and once again she has written a Gem of a book, I have absolutely no problem highly recommending!


Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I have been a fan of Lucy's work for quite a while now. I love the way in which she writes feel good, romance novels that whisk you away to delightful sounding places. I read the synopsis for 'Summer In Provence' and it certainly sounded like another amazing read from Lucy Coleman. I wasn't wrong either because it really was an amazing read and I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of it, but more about that in a bit.
Once again, I was drawn to this book by the author's name alone, the bright and vibrant cover and the story was just the icing on the cake. To say that 'Summer In Provence' was addictive reading seems a massive understatement. As soon as I could grab a copy of this book, I squirreled myself away until I finished the story. Part of my addiction was in part down to the fact that this book proved to be the distraction that I so needed at that moment in time. I had got myself into a tizzy over various things and I needed something to take my mind off things. Well this book certainly did that and more. I managed to read the book over the course of a day, which is good going for me. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case. The pages turned over increasingly quickly as I raced my way to the end of the book. I just had to know what fate had in store for Fern. The pages turned increasingly quickly as my desperation to know how the story concluded grew and grew.
'Summer In Provence' is extremely well written but then I think that to be true of all of Lucy's books. She has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Lucy has the ability to whisk you away to Provence without you having left your sofa. In fact had I closed my eyes, I could easily imagine that I was in Provence with the sun beating down on my face. I genuinely felt as though I was part of the story myself and that's all down to Lucy's very vivid and realistic descriptions.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Summer In Provence' and I would recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Lucy's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

I normally love Lucy Coleman's books but I really struggled to enjoy this one. There were a lot of characters and they lacked authenticity so I didn't feel any connection with them or with the story.

Although the book’s title is Summer in Provence, events take place over the course of a year (and beyond). I really enjoyed how the author conjured up the effect of the changing seasons on the landscape around the Château and there are some particularly charming scenes as the team and their guests celebrate Christmas. Bûche de Noël, anyone?

Fern’s discovery of, and growing confidence in, her artistic talent is really heart-warming to follow. But maybe it’s not only her creativity that will be kindled? When you have a man described as having mesmerizing dark brown eyes, being instantly magnetic and being well cast as Mr Darcy and that person turns out to be Fern’s mentor and founder of the establishment, Nico Gallegos, surely we know what will happen? Throw in the fact he is a bit of a tortured soul and you have the perfect romantic hero. Ah, but in the skilled hands of the author I can assure you it’s not as simple as that.

I loved the way Fern’s innate empathy and intuitive instincts allowed her to bond with some of the guests at the retreat such as Kellie, a young woman with a troubled past. Like me, you may well give a little cheer at the course of a particular Skype call concerning Kellie’s future. Patricia was another lovely character who, as it turns out, holds the key to solving an important problem. As for Fern herself, she tends to underestimate her qualities resulting in one rather lovely moment involving a sheet of paper.

Aiden appears infrequently in person and, for that reason, initially I found it a little difficult to understand Fern’s continued devotion to him given the upheaval he has visited on their lives. His protestations of affection didn’t seem quite consistent with his behaviour and lack of communication during their time apart. Again, the author has some unexpected twists and turns up her sleeve to wrongfoot the reader’s expectations.

There are lovely little touches such as the apposite chapter headings and the author’s parting gift, as it were, giving the reader a glimpse of possible futures for the main characters in the book. Does absence make the heart grow fonder for Fern and Aiden? I’m sure you don’t expect me to tell you! You’re just going to have to read the book to find out.

Summer in Provence, with its heart-warming story set in glorious scenery, is the ideal pick-me-up for the times we’re living through. “When good things happen to good people, it leaves such a warm feeling in your heart.” Amen.

I started reading this the day the UK was put on lock-down, I have never been so relieved to pick up a romance novel to escape into. It did the job perfectly. The words transported me to Provence, France. My knowledge of the area was limited but the stunning location is now firmly on my wish list places to go. I related to Fern and her situation so felt her pain and bewilderment at finding herself on a sabbatical to learn to paint. I was eager to continue reading until the end as the tension between the characters grew.

I have read several Lucy Coleman books and she does not disappoint with her descriptive pose which transport you to different locations. The characters are realistic and memorable They are ideal reads in these unprecedented times.

This book took me totally by surprise. I'll admit to struggling to get into the story at first, but after the first 20% I was hooked. For me, the preamble to Fern and Aiden took an inordinate amount of time, but soon after I could understand why the author had taken her time at the outset. 

It was such an original storyline which was what initially attracted me, as well as having read previous books by the author. She has always managed to ground me totally to the location of her stories, whether it be Versailles, or now in Provence. I felt like Fern's shadow, not just witnessing what she saw but understanding her concerns, her pain, and latterly her new found joy of painting. If it were possible, I'd be booking my tickets there right away. 

The pacing turned out to be perfect for this story; the slow start necessary, the settling in scenes vital, and the ending just beautiful but not without some heartache on the way. 

A story of self-discovery that felt so natural, unhurried, atmospheric, and captivating. Not your traditional romance, but definitely one that suited me, and one that will make me pick up more of this author's books in an instant. Lucy Coleman is an author I trust implicitly to deliver a complete experience.

If you decide to delve in - and you should - be prepared to let the story happen at its own pace. You'll be glad you waited for it. Fans of upmarket women's fiction will love this.

This is the second book of Lucy Coleman that I had the pleasure of reading and just like the previous on, I felt myself transported to a beautiful place and an amazing story.

As we follow Fern through her year in Provence, we are taken to Château de Vernon and the beauty of painting, since Fern volunteers to help out the place in return for painting lessons from the owner, Nico. I loved the take of the story, the characters we got to met and the uncertainty I felt about Fern and Aiden's relationship. The novel felt like a true and emotional representation of life, because things happen, people grow, relationships develop.

Lucy Coleman brings gorgeous scenes to live with her vivid and appealing descriptions. The magic in the words and images the author gives us was definitely one of this aspects I loved about the book, since it transported me to that place and moment.

It as an exciting storytelling, with a good pace and that appealing flow that made me very stay glued to the pages, reading scenes after scene. It was just like watching a movie with all it's colors and I could almost heard music and smell the paint, since the book called my senses.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and I truly recommend it. If you are as curious as I was about the book after reading the synopsis, then I suggest you check it out. A wonderful book and if I wasn't already curious for more of the author's books, I certainly am now.

Just look at that beautiful cover it looks so dreamy, tranquil and freeing.
Fern and Aiden have been together since university and married pretty much soon after graduation. All they've known is being there for each other but now seven years of marriage Fern feels like something is niggling Aiden. When the couple receive an unexpected windfall Aiden announces he wants a 'gap year' in their marriage so he can go off and travel and do things he's always dreamed of. Understandably, Fern is a little confused with Aiden's plans and is concerned that he might have tired of her. So the couple do agree to pursue their dreams for a year but as Fern has been such a solid stalwart figure of the family for a long time she finds it hard to let go of her family responsibilities. As Aiden packs his bags and flies off to Australia Fern goes on her own explorative journey volunteering at a wellness retreat based at a chateau in Provence.
One of the courses run at the chateau is painting and Fern has a longing to rekindle her love of art and to her surprise she finds she's not bad at painting but most of all she is loving the freedom to express herself and to free her mind. The owner of the chateau and retreat, Nico, has soon latched onto Fern's HR skills and begins to trust her instincts with the retreats' students and bonds of friendship are soon formed. Nico becomes a constant mentor for Fern and she turns to his art studio often to embrace this time away from her relationships with her husband and family and is learning to focus on herself.
I loved the sound of the retreat in the perfect setting of the chateau. I too was confused with Aiden's actions but as the story develops the gap year proves that Fern is the one feeling most confident with the changes and has embraced the opportunity to learn, grow and listen to her peers and students hearts and to her own.
A lovely inspiring romance that will have you dreaming of letting your own dreams become a reality.

In Summer in Provence, we have an interesting situation where Fern and Aiden decide to have a year apart and reluctantly, Fern travels to Provence to rediscover her creative side. What she finds when she gets there are some lifelong friends and a community which accepts her from the start. She has some issues from a family tragedy to come to terms with which go some way to explaining why she has felt so protective of her family.

You do not meet Aiden very much for most of the book. He is a fleeting character who you glimpse as he rushes through text messages and short telephone calls to Fern. However, he is a major part of Fern's life and she has some difficult decisions to make. The setting of the book is absolutely beautiful and a major source of inspiration to Fern. With an interesting mix of characters and some character development, this does not disappoint.

In short: Travel to Provence for an uplifting tale.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book

The cover drew me to read this book , as the author is new to me . I loved it , the visionary views portrayed , the beauty , the art , the people Fern meets on her one year gap retreat ,is awe inspiring. The story as well, after winning the lottery and Ferns husband basically wanting a break to run off and fulfil his dreams , leaves Fern to grow as she probably would never have if they didn't take the gap year as he calls it. I really enjoyed seeing her grow confident in her art and mentor others around her , I would recommend this story to everyone!

A 4.5 star read

Thank you to Boldwood Books for my digital review copy - my thoughts are my own.

Before we go any further, the cover design of this book is stunning and fits the story perfectly.

This was an intriguing story - so often books begin with the end of a relationship but this time, the main characters, Fern and Aiden, were 'on a break' after a lottery win - but as with Ross and Rachel in the TV Show 'Friends' - would they have different opinions about what this meant for their relationship?

Aiden heads across the world, eager to try new experiences. Fern stays nearer to home, heading to the Haven in Provence. Both meet new people and develop new skills but how will this change the dynamics of their relationship.

Without giving any spoilers, I enjoyed how the story evolved, as Fern rediscovered her passion for painting and helping others. The Haven came to life, as did Provence - we may not be able to travel to Provence in person at the moment but I have now added this to my list of places to visit in the future.

I enjoyed this book and I recommend it as a feel-good read.

🎨Gorgeous setting for Fern's year of self discovery: a bit long on details🌿

Author Lucy Coleman must have an artistic soul; the portraits she paints of the flora, fauna and landscapes of Provence are loaded with details seen through an artist's eye. It's a lovely backdrop (maybe even a minor character) in this story of twenty-something married woman Fern, off to volunteer at a retreat and, in the process, discovering herself and her untapped skill as an artist. The family she leaves back in England and the staff and visitors to the magnificent chateau retreat that becomes her temporary home are well-drawn. Fern's husband remains a pretty sketchy character considering his key role in her life and her year-long hiatus from her normal commitments.

Although love and longing are part of the story, I would characterize the plot as more self discovery than romance, with challenges faced and conquered by Fern and the friends she makes in her supportive role at the retreat. Fern is a natural worrier and fixer; with her family hundreds of miles distant, she transfers her fixer skills to the residents of the retreat. As to her marriage, I can't imagine how much it frustrated her to be so remote and out of the loop on where her own relationship was headed!🙁

Overall, it's a compelling story, though I found the novel a bit long, mostly thanks to the detailed background descriptions, and Fern gets a bit preachy at times and ready to take control. The complex relationship between Fern and her artistic mentor juxtaposed against her confused interactions with her travel-hungry husband made for some drama, surprises, clean romance and, eventually, a satisfying ending. I really liked the addition of mini epilogues for some of the main characters after the conclusion and before the afterword.

Thanks to publisher Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

This book really was the perfect read for these difficult times – and I honestly don’t think Lucy Coleman’s (or Linn B Halton’s!) writing has ever been better. I love escaping into the world inside a book’s pages – in fact, it’s often the form of travel I most enjoy – and my stay at Château de Vernon in Provence was pretty near perfect. As she always does, the author brings the setting vividly to life – the retreat and its beautiful surroundings, the buildings where its guests stay or spend their days, all those activities they take part in as we watch them relax, learn new skills and get to know themselves (and each other) a little better.

The cast of characters is wonderful, every single person interesting and complex, all with histories and previous lives, sometimes bringing with them a few secrets. But at the book’s heart is Fern – unable to travel with her adventurous husband for reasons of her own, she volunteers her services at the château, leading small groups in some of the activities, turning her hand to anything else that might be needed. And it’s also her opportunity to find out if she has what it takes to become an artist – mentored by Nico, taken under his wing, sharing his studio into the early hours as she finds out what she might be capable of.

I loved her character, and I really loved watching her grow and develop – with her love for her family, her understanding of her husband’s need for adventure, her nurturing of others around her, her daily increase in confidence, and the way we sometimes get to see her through others’ eyes. But she’s by no means the only character I took to my heart – the whole story is told with immense warmth, and I felt totally involved in the lives of every single person I met, seeing beneath their surfaces as they find their own paths to resolving their issues and finding what makes them happy.

I really liked the way the story was structured – a year, dipped into, seen through the seasons. And I really enjoyed the activities, from weeding the herb gardens, through the workshops, to the creative endeavours: and I particularly loved the art, every canvas vividly real, something I could see, with the act of its creation totally involving, and sometimes surprisingly moving.

I must also say a word about the book’s unusual ending, which I thought was so perfectly done, particularly when I’d been so immersed in the lives of the characters who’d become my friends – but I’m certainly not about to spoil it for anyone. I will mention too that I always had my own plan for how Fern’s story would work out – and I most certainly wasn’t disappointed in that either.

My thanks to the author – I really feel I’ve been away for a while. I relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, even if I might now miss the company of the characters. This book was just wonderful – and travelling from the comfort of your armchair might just be something you’d enjoy as very much as I did.

(Review will be copied to Amazon UK on publication day)

A new Lucy Coleman novel never fails to brighten up my day – regardless of all the horrible and scary things going on in the world – and this outstanding writer of contemporary women’s fiction is back with an escapist, enjoyable and emotional tale written with plenty of heart and flair that kept me entertained from beginning to end: Summer in Provence.

When Fern and Aiden receive news of an unexpected windfall, they end up surprising one another with their reactions which are worlds apart. While sensible Fern is all for paying off the mortgage, building a nest egg and having enough money saved for when they decide to start a family, Aiden is nowhere near as practical. He wants to use the money to travel the world and fritter away the money on enjoying himself and doing things that might have previously been denied to him. Fern is immediately taken aback. She has never been the kind of person who enjoyed travelling much, but seeing that her husband is in the grips of wanderlust, together they decide on a marriage gap year where they have three hundred and sixty five days to make their dreams a reality. While Aiden heads off to Australia, Fern opts for the more sedate charms of Provence, but although the couple might be continents apart, little do they realise that both of their lives are going to change…forever!

In Provence and the breath-taking Chateau de Vernon, Fern finds herself able to take a step back from the hustle and bustle of her daily life and indulge in taking some much-needed time to smell the roses, rest, regroup and enjoy having the freedom to please herself without having to worry about the mortgage or paying the bills. At the Chateau, Fern also finds herself lending a hand in exchange for some painting lessons from troubled painter Nico and as the two find themselves getting closer and closer, Fern cannot help but wonder whether she might have found herself a new place she can call home…

Will this year apart end up bringing Fern and Aiden closer? Or will they end up being torn apart for good?

Lucy Coleman continues to get better with every book she writes and Summer in Provence is the latest in a long line of spellbinding and captivating novels which readers will find themselves completely and utterly enchanted by. A gripping tale of finding yourself, the unexpected twists and turns of fate, falling in love and finding the courage to go after what you really want in life, Summer in Provence is a heart-warming, compulsive and terrific read with wonderful characters that come instantly to life and plenty of drama, pathos, humour and charm to keep readers hooked throughout.

Lucy Coleman sweeps readers to a magnificent French chateau and will have them laughing, crying and sighing with her latest fabulous page-turner: Summer in Provence.

Fern is sure something is going to happen, to disturb her life's status quo, but she doesn't know what it is. If her body's reaction is an indication it',s not going to be good. I love the intuitive protagonists the author creates. They give the story an added dimension, adding to the characters' complexity and depth.

Fern finds that money isn't everything when her stable world implodes. She finds herself in Provence, not sure what to expect, or why she' s there. The characters she meets are diverse and all have a story. The group dynamics that develop are authentic. They provide a sympathetic setting for Fern' s emotional journey.

Nico is an enigma, a successful artist he has the moody temperament and a magnetic personality. Drawn to the latent talent he sees in Fern, he mentors her. Fern enjoys his focus, appreciated for something other than her problem-solving skills. There is romance in this story, but it's a meeting of minds, rather than physical completion. There is one sensual scene, towards the end that is beautifully written and makes Fern challenge, everything she believes about her life and relationship.

The story is easy to read, full of interesting people and activities. Character-driven it takes you on a sensual journey of exploration. With its touches of drama, poignancy and romance you enjoy a lovely escape from reality. The ending is full of twists and completes this journey of minds and spirits in a satisfying way.

I received a copy of this book from the author and Boldwood Books in return for an honest review.

Like many books, this one spans quite some time. Unlike a lot of books, it spans from March 2018 through to December 2020 with a few pit stops along the way. As soon as I saw this structure in the contents, I knew a lot would have to happen and that I’d probably love it. Especially since I’m a fan of the authors previous works.

The journey Lucy follows in this book is one many couples go through. Having been together since they were in school, getting married and buying a house shortly after graduating uni, they never really had a chance to be young and free. They never dated around, never did the gap year traveling thing.

In Fern’s case, she hasn’t slept with anyone other than her husband.

In many ways they grew up and matured together without discovering and forming their own individual identities. I believe this is what “rushing into things” means. In this case it leads to a gap year in their marriage. A year away from each other, their jobs, their home and everything they’ve known so far.

It’s a year to discover who they are separate from each other before coming back together to continue life as they’d previously known it.

Of course, what’s the point of a story if there’s no drama, right? Well, with love interests, discoveries of new talents, family hiding secrets etc this book is filled with slow burn drama that boils over into an amazing ending. There’s one detail I don’t like about how Aiden behaves. But if I tell you what it is it’ll ruin the book for you.

I also loved the ending and the discussions had around marriage, what it means and why people get married. At the time I read this I was chatting to a friend about that very topic and in so many ways Lucy captured the very essence of what we were saying.

If you'd won a million pounds on the lottery, what would you want to do? Fern and Aiden have very different ideas - she wants to pay off their mortgage whilst he wants to go travelling the world for a year without her! He's off, starting his travels backpacking in Australia whilst she decides to volunteer at a retreat in Provence where she'll have the opportunity to explore and develop her own artwork. Just what happens to them is told in this fantastic read . . . . Will their very different experiences during this year bring them closer together or drive them apart?

In amid the current chaos that is our world, this book is a haven of tranquility and brilliant book to escape into. The Château de Vernon truly sounds like a haven from our current reality, please can I go there now? The eclectic mix of diverse characters all have their own reasons for being at the Château, their diverse backstories and interactions are skilfully interwoven into a moving, engaging read which I thoroughly enjoyed and really can't recommend highly enough.

The author's descriptions are superb at painting vivid pictures in the imagination of the reader, making it easy for me to feel like I was really exploring the buildings and beautiful scenery, meeting and chatting with the folks there and seeing some of the stunning art work being created. It is a story about families, relationships, love and dreams, an unforgettable, amazing read - and I loved the extras at the end, but you need to read it for yourself to discover what I mean by that!

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it and being totally blown away by how great it is. I really hope you all get to read it and enjoy it as much as I did. This one is definitely a keeper for me.